Historically, business institutions base their growth strategies on their research and development (R&D) function. This function is fairly established and sets out to acquire new knowledge in a systematic process of research in order to produce or improve products, services or processes. In fact, innovation and research are two of the main thrusts for economic growth. Research is planned, assessed, managed and rewarded, innovation is not. However, without acknowledging and aiding the growing importance of innovation for growth in a rapidly more chaotic environment, this function is set for failure. Where research is valued, innovation is feared as radical and disruptive. There is little evidence to link them and show how they, jointly, can add more value than separately. They remain independent entities in separate clusters of the economy. The article explores the convergence of innovation and research, focusing on the development of a conceptual model in terms of the technology framework required for the accomplishment of convergence. In this sense, technology is defined as knowledge, tacit or explicit, in human, document or electronic format. The proposed convergence requires the use of knowledge frameworks to drive the innovation and research. The contribution of the article lies in the knowledge developmental aspects of research and innovation convergence. An existing knowledge development system is reviewed and a conceptual framework presented to outline the possible courses of action for knowledge and innovation alignment. This framework incorporates aspects of technology (as knowledge) into the innovation and research functions.

The advancement of communication technologies necessitates higher levels of communication competence and technological skills. The application of technology in the business operations of organizations impacts on the organization's internal communication processes and on its communication with clients and other roleplayers. The purpose of this article is to review various methods and technologies associated with communication in an organization and to report on an investigative research concerning employees' preferences regarding specific communication methods and technologies. The research further aimed to investigate, on the basis of employees' preferences, whether certain technologies complemented, supplemented or replaced other technologies - specifically in the processes of knowledge sharing and decision making at different levels of complexity of communication. The data collected from international ICT companies are compared and reported in the analyses of the research findings.

The purpose of this research was to determine to what extent intellectual capital is recognized and developed in the South African horseracing industry. The industry can be defined as an oligopoly, with Phumelela and Gold Circle the key organizations. Phumelela and Gold Circle's intellectual capital recognition and development was examined and compared. In this article, intellectual capital is defined according to three categories - human, structural and relational capital. Intellectual capital's organizational importance is also discussed. The empirical study was conducted by examining the annual reports and financial statements of Phumelela and Gold Circle. Specific structured interviews with key industry role players were done. Recommendations are made to assist in the industry's task of managing and developing intellectual capital.

Technology plays a major role in the lives of children the world over. Computers, game consoles, cellular phones, handheld games and the Internet are becoming part and parcel of the modern child's means of education, entertainment, information and communication. Technology, especially the Internet, opens the window on the world for everyone. In the global information society (GIS), children have access to the world's largest library containing information from around the globe on just about any subject. Children and adults alike can enrich their learning by obtaining diverse views from world experts. However, lurking among the plethora of valuable information is an equally large library of propaganda, paedophilia and pornography. Furthermore, there are millions of ill-intentioned people waiting silently to take advantage of children through chat rooms, e-mail and instant messaging. In the physical world, parents control their children's access to pornography and literature of an unacceptable nature and go to lengths to protect them from physical harm and exploitation, but do they take the same precautions online? This research aimed to answer the question 'are parents aware of online dangers and are they doing enough to protect their children online?''